Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex social problem that social workers must be trained to address, using the best available evidence. In this article we review divergent theories, research findings, and methods that underpin debates about the role of gender in IPV perpetration and victimization. We examine the literature that contextualizes IPV and identifies different types of IPV and recommend training social workers to use differential assessment tools for IPV. We conclude that gender does matter in IPV and that social work students can critically evaluate the gender debates in selecting evidence for safe and effective practice.